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Paula and Gerry - More Than First-Date Nerves

Paula's recalls the difficulty of dating Gerry whilst suffering severe social anxiety

Paula was born and brought up in Glasgow, as was her husband Gerry. Paula has suffered from crippling social anxiety for almost her whole life. It hindered her to the extent that she wasn't able to go out and meet friends or be in public spaces without feeling anxious and scared.

Gerry proposed to Paula just 6-months after their first date. They'd met through work and at first he wasn't aware of her social anxiety. It became more apparent when they married in 2009. The wedding had to be held in a very discreet, low-key way to accomodate her condition, so no speeches, no first dance, no special hair and make-up, just everything very pared-back.

Paula world transformed in 2012 as she watched the London Olympics coverage. Commentators kept saying there was a sport for everyone, but as someone with a terrible track record in any kind of performance - least of all physical - Paula had never found one that worked for her. As the Glasgow Commonwealth Games approached, she set herself the challenge of trying all 17 sporting disciplines. She pulled it off, recording her experiences in her blog www.paulamusttryharder.co.uk, and discovered a community of people just like her, who'd been isolated by social anxiety. This has inspired her to continue, and she's now making her way through the list of 15 jobs children dream of doing as grown-ups.

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4 minutes

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